A shared object refers to the code, which is shared across different programs instead of being replicated manually for each program. Here, the permanent shared objects are the codes that are bound to remain active in the system's memory even after the program is over. The main purpose of creating the permanent shared objects is to ensure that these codes are stored in the memory and can be re-used multiple times as and when required. This also implies that the codes can be used by other programs that are executed on the same system later.
One of the major advantages of permanent shared objects is that they allow you to reuse the same code for different programs, thus saving memory and optimizing your device's performance. It also saves developers' time and effort in coding for different programs separately. Moreover, it's easier to make changes, as the change has to be implemented in only a single code, instead of multiple copies.
What Type of Attacks Happened on Create Permanent Shared Objects?
Not every user should be granted the Create Permanent Shared Objects right. Ideally, only the LocalSystem seems to be the only account that's allowed to create permanent shared objects. That's because once the right has been granted, any user can create shared objects and might expose the confidential data of the business to the network.
An injection attack is the most common type of attack on a system. The malicious user might attempt to release malware through malicious code into the program. Once they get access to these programs and codes, they might misuse them to run just about any code of their choice on the system. The effect can be as bad as the network shutting down for good. Permanent shared objects also lead to the risk of privilege escalation, in which attackers might elevate their privilege rights to access sensitive information.
Another common form of attack on Create Permanent Shared Objects is DLL hijacking, a technique in which the hacker might replace the original DLL with a malicious one. The malicious DLL can be misused to run arbitrary codes. If the attacker manages to access the system and release malware into the code, all the future programs that you run using the same code will be affected. Every program running on the same code will be infected by the malware.
The worst part is that these were only to name a few. There are dozens of such attacks that can occur on Create Permanent Shared Objects and might interfere with the function of your program.
What is the Potential Impact of "Create Permanent Shared Objects"?
Create Permanent Shared Objects has good and bad impacts on your system. Its positive impact is that it saves memory by allowing you to reuse the same code and files for several programs. This also means that if there's any change or a major update needed in the code, you only have to make changes to a single code, instead of changing different codes for different programs.
It also has some downsides. For instance, if the shared objects have any form of vulnerabilities that make them highly prone to attackers, there is a chance the attacker might get access to the program and steal your sensitive data or elevate their privilege rights.
As mentioned earlier, the security risks also include the injection of malware into the program, especially if you have granted the Create Permanent Shared Objects rights to every user. It's important that each organization should implement basic security practices to prevent unauthorized access to customers' sensitive data. That's because if any of these security breaches occur, you might face negative consequences for security compliance.
What are the Major Vulnerabilities of Create Permanent Shared Objects?
Create Permanent Shared Objects might be useful in programming, but it poses many security threats. The setting is associated with many vulnerabilities, most of which we have covered above. Buffer overflow, malware injection, DLL hijacking, and privilege escalation (to name a few) can pose great security threats to your organization.
The biggest risk with Create Permanent Shared Objects is that a malicious user can hack into the code and tamper with the organization’s sensitive data. The worst part is that once they get access to your system, they can escalate their privileges and get to the part where the customers' and employees' confidential data or your business's financial information is stored. They might also infect the code with malware, which will be released into every program that runs on this code.
Why is it Important to Harden Create Permanent Shared Objects?
System hardening refers to the process of maximizing the security of a particular setting or limiting the users' access to this functionality to ensure that only privileged users in your organization get the right to Create Permanent Shared Objects. Regular monitoring of this setting will also help you detect and prevent any suspicious activity in a timely manner.
Simply put, Create Permanent Shared Objects is quite a useful setting as it enables the same code to remain in the memory and be reused for the programs developed in the future. This is a time and cost-efficient method for developers, as it allows them to reuse the same code repeatedly. However, it's also quite risky since Create Permanent Shared Objects containing vulnerabilities can interfere with the system's performance significantly.
While disabling this setting can help reduce the risk to some degree, this alone won't maximize the security of your system and will need to be used in conjunction with other security tools to ensure that your system is optimized for security and is in good condition.
Automated solutions can be very useful for server hardening and saving time:
- Consistency: Automated solutions can apply hardening policies to servers consistently and uniformly, ensuring that all servers are configured with the same level of security. This can reduce the risk of configuration errors and make it easier to maintain security across a large number of servers.
- Time-saving: Hardening a server manually can be a time-consuming and error-prone task. Automated solutions can help save time by applying hardening policies automatically, freeing up time for administrators to focus on other important tasks.
- Scalability: Automated solutions can be used to harden multiple servers simultaneously, making it possible to quickly and efficiently apply security policies across an entire infrastructure.
- Auditability: Automated solutions can provide a record of all changes made to the server configuration, making it easier to track changes and ensure that security policies are being properly applied and enforced.
